Flat

Historic Home of Horseracing

Newmarket is the historic home of horseracing, known as ‘Headquarters’, with the surrounding area home to more than 70 trainers with more than 3,500 horses in training, as well as over 60 stud farms.

Two Racecourses

Newmarket has two racecourses, the Rowley Mile (used in spring and autumn) and the July Course (used in summer), as well as the National Horseracing Museum, The Jockey Club and the National Stud.

King Charles II, Jockey

Racing took place on the Heath until the racecourse was founded in 1636. King Charles II launched the Newmarket Town Plate in 1666 (which is still run today on the Round Course reserved exclusively for this event) and in 1671 took part himself to become the first and only reigning monarch to ride a winner. 

Universally Binding Rules

The rules he laid down for the 1666 race were declared ‘universally binding’ and so are considered to be the foundation of formal racing Rules and modernday racing. Many historic occasions and famous moments have taken place in Newmarket since then.

Tote Connection

More recently, the July Course became the first to host the Tote in 1929 (along with Carlisle) and Newmarket became the first course in Britain to introduce starting stalls in 1965. In the late 19th and early 20th Century Newmarket also had a National Hunt course, used today by the Links Gallops.

Important Races/Festivals

• May (Rowley Mile) – Guineas Festival FOR FESTIVAL GUIDE CLICK HERE
• July (July Course) – Falmouth Stakes; July Cup FOR FESTIVAL GUIDE CLICK HERE
• October – Future Champions Meeting FOR FESTIVAL GUIDE CLICK HERE